MP chain snatching case: Over 1,500 CCTV cameras scanned, 200 quizzed but police yet trace suspect, scooter

Indian Express

a day ago

A man in his early 20s, wearing a colourful full sleeve T-shirt and a helmet, is seen riding a black Suzuki 125 scooter in CCTV camera footage. This was just after he allegedly snatched a gold chain from Congress MP R Sudha, while she was on a morning walk on the streets of Chanakyapuri in the high-security Lutyens' Delhi on Monday.
The suspect, who was seen driving at a very high speed both before and after he targeted the MP, then flees towards South Delhi's Moti Bagh. Police suspect he came from the same direction before he committed the crime.
According to sources, the Delhi Police has so far scanned over 1,500 CCTV cameras – including 900 installed around embassies and areas near the incident spot – to identify the suspect. Police teams have also searched over 25 localities, including jhuggi jhopri clusters at Chanakyapuri, Sarojini Nagar, and R K Puram. But to no avail.
A source said the CCTV camera footage is not clear enough to identify his face and the scooter's registration number. The police are taking the help of a face recognition system and other technical tools to identify the accused and the vehicle registration number, the source added.
A senior officer said 24 teams from the New Delhi district police, Crime Branch, Special Cell, and Special Staff are working to apprehend the accused.
According to CCTV footage, as soon as the suspect crossed the railway bridge while coming from Moti Bagh, he took the Flag Pole roundabout from Shantipath and turned onto Niti Marg, where gates 3 and 4 of the Poland Embassy are located. There, he allegedly spotted Sudha and Rajya Sabha MP Rajathi Salma walking along the roadside, snatched Sudha's gold chain, and sped away on his scooter.
Over 200 people, including many with previous criminal records, as well as snatchers recently released from jail or out on bail, have been questioned, said police.
Police said that Chanakyapuri, home to several embassies and high commissions, has 20 'bad characters' on record at the local police station, with the majority known to be involved in bootlegging and thefts. Five of them are currently active, said an officer.
Hours after the incident, the district police chief had directed all police stations in New Delhi district to conduct early morning patrols and picket checks in Chanakyapuri and nearby areas, another officer added.
Earlier this year, a similar snatching incident had taken place in Chanakyapuri, which was cracked by the police within a few hours. 'The accused, who was on a scooter, had chased a woman pillion rider on another scooter and snatched her chain. The accused was arrested from Sarojini Nagar and the chain was also recovered,' a source said.